Device for case-hardening steel articles.



No. 723,167. PATENTED MAR. 17, 1903. JfP. S. LAWRANGE.

DEVICE FOR CASE HARDENING STEEL ARTICLES.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 3, 1902.

m ETERS c0. PHOTO-LYING wgsnmarou u c IY UNITED STATES- PATENT Fries.

JAMES P. S. LAWRANCE, OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T THOMAS BURD ZELL, OF READING, PENNSYLVANIA.

DEVICE FOR CASE-HARDENING STEEL ARTICLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 723,167, dated March 17, 1903. Application filed November 3, 1902. Serial No. 129,836. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES P. s. LAWRANCE,

of the United States Navy, have invented a.

new and useful Improvement in Devices for Case-Hardening Steel Articles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists ofa device for casehardening portions of steel articles, and is more particularly adapted for case-hardening the rim of steel articles, such as wheels, and is designed as-animprovernent on the device for treating wheels described in United States Letters Patent granted to myself September 9, 1902, No. 708,817. I i I Myinvention further consists in the details of construction hereinafter fully described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 represents a central vertical section of a device for case-hardening constructed in accordance with my invention. Figs. 2 and 3 represent central vertical sections of modifications thereof,the coverbeingomitted. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 represent central vertical sections of other modifications thereof with the cover in place.

Similar letters of reference indicate GOII'OP spending parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, in said Letters Patent No. 708,817, above referred to, I have shown a device for case-hardening which consists of a receptacle adapted to support a wheel and having an open top and bottom,

the specific means for supporting the Wheel shown in said patent consisting of a flat inwardly-projecting flange. Between the flange and the wheel is placed carbonaceous material, so that when the device, with the wheel thus inclosed, is heated within a furnace the percentage of carbon in the peripheral por-' tion of the wheel or that portion in contact with the carbonaceous material is increased.

One of the objects of my present invention is to provide means for more effectually retainingthe carbonaceous material, and I accomplish this by employing achannel that is situated below the means upon which the wheel rests and within which the carbonaceous material is placed. In Fig. 1 I have shown one construction of this channel, which consists of a casing A, having feet B and an inwardly and upwardly projecting curved and has the outwardly-extending angular rim J instead of the curved flange C shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 3 the receptacle K is curved inwardly at its lower portion,and the feet L depend therefrom, while the channel M is formed by means of the upright rim N, extending upwardly from the inner and lower edge of the receptacle K.

The construction shown in Fig. 4 is similar to that shown in Fig. 1 in that it consists of the receptacle A and feet B and curved flange O and cover E; but this construction is further provided with additional means for supporting the flange 0, consisting of a downward extension P, depending from the inner upper portion of said flange 0, having feet Q.

In Figs. 1 and 4 I have shown a flat cover, While in Figs. 2 and 3 it is understood that either this flat cover E may be employed or covers like that shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and

referring now particularly to Fig. 5 it will be seen that I have shown another construction of the receptacle and channel. In, this construction the receptacle R and flange S both curve upwardly and in opposite directions from theupper ends of the feet T, the receptacle R extending higher, as will be obvious. In this figure, moreover, the cover U is provided with a channel V in its lower face that is situated over the channel of the receptacle, this construction being particularly adapted for wheels and having double flanges, so that a flange can extend into each channel.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a construction wherein the parts forming the channel are separate and disconnected from the receptacle proper, the same consisting of the cylindrical receptacle W, having feet X, while within said receptacle W is placed the sup tion of the article.

port and channel, which consists of the upright rim Y, an annular flange Z extending outwardly from the lower ledge thereof, while the feet A extend downwardly from the said flange Y, it being noted that the flange Z fits within the receptacle W. The cover B is provided with a channel 0 in its lower face, situated opposite the channel formed within the receptacle, for the purpose described in connection with Fig. 5, it being noted, however, that the channel 0 is formed by angular portions of the cover instead of by the curved portions shown in Fig. 5.

Myinvention is adapted for case-hardening steel articles of any shape, such as wheels, whether flanged or not, and may be made of any suitable material that will withstand the heat, and it may be lined with refractory material or made entirely thereof and may be made of any shape.

In use the wheel or article to be treated is supported Within the receptacle upon the upward edge of the flange O in Fig. 1 or upon the corresponding parts of the other figures, and carbonaceous material is placed within the channel and around the peripheral por- The receptacle, with the wheel thus inclosed, is then placed within a furnace to subject the same to the requisite heat, the feet holding the receptacle above the bottom of the furnace and permitting the heat to reach both sides of the wheel. When thus heated, the peripheral portion of the wheel absorbs an additional percentage of carbon, and is thus hardened as compared with the portions of the wheel not in contact with the carbonaceous material.

Having thus described myinvention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A device for case-hardening steel articles, consisting of a receptacle adapted to supportthe article, and having an open top and bottom, said receptacle being provided with a channel situated below and around the means for supporting said article.

2. A device for case-hardening steel articles, consisting of a receptacle adapted to support the article, and having an open top and bottom, said receptacle being provided with a channel situated below and around the means for supporting said article, and an annular cover for said receptacle.

3. A device for case-hardening steel articles, consisting of a receptacle adapted to support the article, and having an open top and bottom, said receptacle being provided witha channel situated below and around the means for supporting said article, and an annular cover for said receptacle having a channel in its lower face situated opposite the channel of said receptacle.

4. A device for case-hardening steel articles, consisting ofa receptacle, an upwardlyeXtending portion within said receptacle forming a support for the article and a channel between the same and said receptacle, said receptacle having an open top and bottom.

5. A device for case-hardening steel articles, consisting of a receptacle, and means for supporting the article therein consisting of a separate member situated within said receptacle, the upper end of said memberforming the support for the article and forming a channel between said member and receptacle, and said receptacle having an open top and bottom, and conveniently elevated so as to be equally heated all around.

JAMES P. S. LAWRANCE. Witnesses:

WM. CANER WIEDERSHEIM, O. D. McVAY. 

